The Fourth War
1990, English. Directed by John Frankenheimer.
Two proud heroes with no one left to fight... But each other.
Cold War adversaries Col. Jack Knowles and his Russian counterpart, Col. Valachev, are stationed on opposite sides of the German-Czech border. Both men are responsible for a group of troops in their remote settings, and both have been shaped by their combat experiences and a shared aversion to their superiors' ways of doing things. After a defector is killed, things escalate into a full-fledged battle with serious geopolitical ramifications.
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
Start now and it ends at ….
Snoozefest
Your time is worth more.
5.3/10 from 50 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Fourth War
The Fourth War is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and MGM+ in India.
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Tubi TVAvailability in India as of 6 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- John FrankenheimerDirector
- Roy ScheiderCol. Jack Knowles
- Jürgen ProchnowCol. Valachev
- Tim ReidLt. Col. Clark
- Lara HarrisElena
- Harry Dean StantonGen. Hackworth
- Dale DyeSergeant Major
- William MacDonaldMP Corporal
- David PalffyGawky Soldier
- Neil GrahnNeedle-Nose Soldier
- Ernie JacksonKnowles Driver
- Ron CampbellYoung US Soldier
- John DoddsDefector
Details
- Released
- 12 January 1990
- Country
- United States of America, Canada
- Written by
- Stephen Peters, Kenneth Ross
- Box office
- $1.3M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Fourth War: quick answers
Is The Fourth War worth watching?
Our verdict is Snoozefest: Your time is worth more. It scores 5.3/10 from 50 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Fourth War?
The Fourth War runs 91 minutes (1h 31m).
Does The Fourth War have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Fourth War. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Fourth War parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Fourth War is rated R in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is The Fourth War on?
The Fourth War is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and MGM+ in India. (Checked 6 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Fourth War?
If you liked The Fourth War, try Fail Safe, Gorky Park, The Manchurian Candidate.
Who directed The Fourth War?
The Fourth War (1990) was directed by John Frankenheimer and stars Roy Scheider, Jürgen Prochnow, Tim Reid.